Focusing device for cameras.



No. 658,872. Patented Oct. 2, I900. H. E. S. 'SINGLETON. FOCUSING DEVICE FOR CAMERAS.

No Model JAM 5M MM UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

HERBERT E. S. SINGLETON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO SIDNEY F. LEE AND HARRY HAMPSHIRE, OF SAME PLACE.

FOCUSING DEVICE FOR CAMERAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,872, dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed September 27, 1899. Serial No. 731,844. (No model.)

To all whom it 11ml c l w rn: light wood or sheet metal, but is shown as Be it known that I, HERBERT E. S. SINGLE- formed from wire bent into proper shape. TON, a citizen of the Colony of Victoria, re- The two ends of each foldable support shown siding at San Francisco, in the county of San are turned up to form journals 6, which have Francisco and State of California, have inbearings in staples 7, sunk in the groove, as

vented certain new and useful Improvements shown very clearly in Figs. 1 and 4. Each in Focusing Attachments for Cameras, of support is bent so as to form two converging which the following is a specification. arms 8 8, connected at obtuse angles by a My invention relates to an attachment for straight arm 9. IO photographic cameras to be used in focusing. The two supports combined form a foldable My object is to do away with the inconvenframe, which is covered with suitable opaque ient focusing-cloth heretofore generally used material, preferably black cloth, the latter and at the same time to provide alight, simbeing secured at the edges in the rabbeted ple, and cheap attachment in lieu thereof groove and stretched over the die-frames in 15 which is readily attachable and removable. the frusto-pyramidal shape shown in Fig. l.

I have embodied my invention in a me- Each support is thrown outwardly either by chanical structure, which is illustrated in the being formed as a spring or by being impelled accompanying drawings. by a spring 11, which connects it with the Figure l is a perspective View of a camera frame, so that when free the whole frame- 20 with my focusing attachment in position for work and its cover D assume the position of operation. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the Fig. 1 and appear as a hood projecting from camera with the focusing device folded flat, the rear of the camera and provided with the as when not in use. Fig. 3 is an elevation of eyeholes l2 l2. \Vhen not in use, the supthe frame which supports the focusing at- L ports, with their flexible covering, are folded tachment with the cloth and its foldable supdown one upon the other, so as to lie fiat ports removed and showing one means of atupon the frame and rear surface of the camtaching such frame to the camera. Fig. 4 is era. In this position they are held in any a side elevation of the camera with the focussuitable way. A convenient holding and ing device partly broken away and partly in releasing device is shown in the drawings, 0 section. consisting of a bail 13, hinged upon one of So Arepresents acamera of any ordinary kind, the foldable supports, which when the device which in itself forms no part of myinvention. is in folded position projects slightly beyond B is a frame, of wood or light metal, which the frame and is held by a latch 14, pivoted is removably attached to the rear of the camon the frame. When this latch is released,

5 era in any suitable way. I prefer the at both foldable supports spring outwardly to tachment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The the extent permitted by the cloth and form upper and lower bars of the frame are rethe focusing-hood illustrated. This hood ancessed, as shown at 1, and a plate 2, also reswers all the purposes of the old focusingcessed, as shown at 3, is countersunk in and cloth in excluding light and obviates all its 40 secured to the lower surface of the frame, so inconveniences in being always at hand and 0 that said recesses register. These recesses instantaneousinadjustmentforuse. Infact, are caused to engage with the projecting it need never be removed from the camera; screws or pins 4 4 on the camera, the heads but if occasion arises such removal can be of which pass behind the plates 2. In this madeinstantaneously. Where the camera is 45 way the frame is easily detachable, but is provided with a door at the rear controlled 5 firmly held until positively removed. The by a spring on the camera-box, there is ample face of the frame is rabbeted, as shown at 5, room within the hood for such door to swing throughout its extent. In this rabbet or down out of the way. v

groove and at each end of the frame is hinged I do not limit myself to the details of con- 50 a foldable support C, which may be made of struction herein described, and shown in the drawings, as I desire to avail myself of such modifications and equivalents as fall properly within the spirit of my invention.

It will be seen that the folding supports are each of such length as to extend substantially all the Way across theopening in the frame B, and in folding the hood the movement of these supports causes the hood to fold beneath them in the form of two superimposed or overlapping flaps. The hood is thus distinguished from the bellows or accordion form of folding hood in that it comprises the two flaps, each of Which is of a length equal to that of the depth of the hood. The fastening device 13 for holding the hood in folding position is conveniently attached to the free end of-one of the folding supports.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. Inafocusingattachmentforcameras,the combination with a frame adapted to be at tached to a camera, of foldable supports pivoted to said frame and adapted to be folded one upon the other in fiat position, a cover supported thereby, a bail connected to one of said supports and a latch for holding the free end of said bail.

2. In a focusing attachment for cameras, a

frame having a groove or rabbet, a flexible cover secured therein, and spring-actuated foldable supports movable automatically toward the rear for expanding said cover into a focusing-hood.

3. In combination, the frame, the pivoted folding supports, the hood attached thereto and the spring for swinging said supports on their pivots, substantially as described.

4:. In combination, the frame, the swinging supports attached at opposite sides of the frame, and arranged to overlap when folded, and a hood attached to the supports and forming, when folded, flaps extending inwardly from opposite sides of the frame and overlap ping each other, substantially as described.

5. In combination, the frame, the overlap ping pivoted supports, the hood attached thereto and the fastening device to hold the hood folded, said device being connected at or near the free end of one of the flaps, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 18th day of September, 1899.

HERBERT E. S. SINGLETON.

Witnesses:

L. W. SEELY, O. H. SINGLETON. 

